Protection for Hire: A Novel [Paperback]

Camy Tang (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 2011 | Series: Protection for Hire (Book 1)

Tessa Lancaster's skills first earned her a position as an enforcer in her Uncle Teruo's Japanese Mafia gang. Then they landed her in prison for a crime she didn't commit. Now, three months after her release, Tessa's abilities have gained her a job as bodyguard for wealthy socialite Elizabeth St. Amant and her three-year-old son. But there's a problem or two ... or three .... There's Elizabeth's abusive husband whose relentless pursuit goes deeper than mere vengeance. There's Uncle Teruo, who doesn't understand why Tessa's new faith as a Christian prevents her from returning to the yakuza. And then there's Elizabeth's lawyer, Charles Britton, who Tessa doesn't know is the one who ensured that she did maximum time behind bars. Now Tessa and Charles must work together in order to protect their client, while new truths emerge and circumstances spiral to a deadly fever pitch. Factor in both Tessa's and Charles's families and you've got some wild dynamics---and an action-packed, romantic read as Tessa and Charles discover the reality of being made new in Christ.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Camy Tang grew up in Hawaii but she now lives in San Jose, California, with her engineer husband and rambunctious mutt, Snickers. She was a biologist researcher, but these days she is surgically attached to her computer, writing full-time. In her spare time, she is a staff worker for her church youth group, and she leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. She won the Carol Book of the Year award in the Debut Author category with her novel Sushi for One? Follow Camy online at www.camytang.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (November 29, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031032033X
• ISBN-13: 978-0310320333
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write Christian romantic suspense and humorous contemporary romance. Out now are my romantic suspense novels set in Sonoma, California, and my humorous contemporary Sushi Series about four Asian American cousins living in Silicon Valley in northern California.

I used to play co-ed volleyball (7 years) until I tore my ACL *twice*. Yeah, not doing that again. Now I'm getting into running--I completed the Couch to 5K program (had fun!) and I used the Jeff Galloway Run-Walk-Run method (absolutely LOVE it!) to train for my first marathon in December 2010!

I have been a staff worker with my church youth group since 1996, and I've loved seeing the teens I worked with grow up into men and women of God. My husband and I lead a worship team at church comprised of mostly high school students.

I'm also from Hawaii and I love to eat. I love Chinese food. And Italian. And Mexican. And Indian. Okay, so I'm a sucker for pretty much any ethnic foods. I get my Chinese food fix every year when my husband's family makes their special homemade Christmas party spread.

I don't have any kids, but I do have a rambunctious pound puppy we got from the Humane Society. She's a butthead but we love her. We tried to train the buttheadedness out of her with six rounds of dog classes, and although my husband and I learned the commands and techniques and all about dominance, she elects not to obey.

Visit my website to sign up for my newsletter: http://www.camytang.com/

And on my blog, I talk about frivolous things: http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/. I hope to see you there!

Camy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romantic Supense with a kick of Wasabi, December 18, 2011

By 

H. Harden "cowgirl" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Protection for Hire: A Novel (Paperback)

Camy Tang must have taken a cue from her days working in a biology testig lab when she came up with the formula for "Protection For Hire." She took the basic ingredients of romantic suspense and added in a kick of her trademark wasabi to create a five-star recipe that will keep you coming back for more!

Tessa Lancaster is a Japanese American with deep family ties. From the age of sixteen Tessa is known on the streets as a violent and ruthless enforcer for the Japanese Mafia (yakuza) until she sacrificed her freedom to protect the family. Fresh out of prison after serving seven years for a crime she didn't commit, Tessa is free to return to "the family"-literally-the yakuza run by her Uncle Teruo. While in prison, Tessa is set free spiritually, encountering Christ and becoming a Christian.

Tessa sets out on a straight career path, channeling her skills into serving as a bodyguard for wealthy socialite Elizabeth St. Amant and her three-year-old son. But being from the upper crust doesn't preclude Elizabeth from having problems. The socialite comes with a lot of baggage, including an abusive ex-husband and a missing fortune.

Tessa is grittier than most heroines-she's trained in martial arts and we get to see her put her skills to the test against a variety of bad guys. She doesn't doubt her ability to keep her charges safe but she's going to have a harder time guarding her own heart. The case forces her to work closely with Elizabeth's lawyer, Charles Britton. Tessa unknowingly lets her guard down to the man who led the charge to lock her up and throw away the key for her supposed crime.

The pair must try to survive assassins, gang rivalries, and exasperating family in their search to give Elizabeth her life back.

It's not only evil that Tessa is battling. She faces temptation in the form of a disappointed mother, an angry sister and eager uncle who still see Tessa the same as they always have. Tessa must decide whether to handle things herself, the way she did when her life revolved around the yakuza, or fully follow Christ.

I was surprised that one of my favorite characters was Uncle Teruo. Tang does an excellent job of slowly growing his character into a man much deeper than just a caricature of the organized crime boss.

The first few chapters are heavy on description-though it's integral to the plot and informative about the Asian mob community. The book quickly progresses to a page turning read with strong dialogue, an engrossing plot and characters you'll care about.

Fans of books by Dee Henderson, Terri Blackstock and Irene Hannon, and fans of female detective including Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series and the Sunny Randall series by Robert B. Parker will enjoy "Protection For Hire."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Romantic, Action Packed Novel!!!, December 31, 2011

By 

Megan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Protection for Hire: A Novel (Paperback)

Protection for Hire is a romantic, action packed novel, that even has a slight mystery to it. I loved reading this book, it was enjoyable to the last page! I hated when I had to put this book down and was quick to hurry back to it. The story had many twists, which made it all the more enjoyable, because I was never sure who was behind it all.

When Tessa chose to take the blame for a murder she had nothing to do with, she went to prison for the maximum amount of time. This however was a blessing in disguise, because while in prison she accepted Jesus as her Savior and this turned her life around. She wants to get out of the family business and live her life right. Now she only has to find a job...with a criminal record and a reputation that strikes fear in most people, that shouldn't be too hard, right?

Protection for Hire is a great read. I LOVED it and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book.

***I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Camy Tang's best book!, December 25, 2011

By 

Laura A. Jackson "laurelprincess" (Houston, Tx, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Protection for Hire: A Novel (Paperback)

When Tessa was just sixteen she began working for her Uncle Teruo's Japanese Mafia gang, so when she takes the fall for someone else's crime and gets seven years in prison, she isn't surprised that people still expect her to be a criminal. Instead, she's a Christian trying to make a fresh start. When she agrees to become a bodyguard for Elizabeth St. Amant, an abused woman whose life is in danger, Tessa finds herself back into her old world...except this time, she's on the right side. Will Tessa be able to stop the people who want Elizabeth dead?

I've read most of Camy Tang's work and enjoyed it. However, this is by far her best book. The action and character development were amazing. As always, the Chinese and Japanese cultures are woven throughout the novel. One of Tang's best writing qualities is her grasp of family dynamics, and this book had one of the best as Tessa forged a relationship with her mother and sister.

Tang did a great job peeling back the layers in her characters, pushing past the superficial and getting to their hearts and motivations....all while out-driving trails and fighting assassins.

Fans of Camy Tang will love this novel. It has a little of everything: culture, romance, action, and family. I look forward to reading the second book in the series!

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.